About Pat Kernighan

Patricia Kernighan has represented District 2 on the Oakland City Council since May 2005. By providing outstanding constituent service and encouraging neighborhood empowerment Pat is providing real solutions to local problems. She believes that all Oakland neighborhoods should be safe, clean and economically vibrant and is working everyday to achieve that goal.

Pat has addressed public safety issues in every neighborhood of District 2 at the ground level. Projects have ranged from installing lighting in San Antonio Park and surveillance cameras in the Eastlake/Park Boulevard commercial district to securing walking police officers in the Grandlake commercial district and police patrol car parking in Chinatown. Traffic safety projects include new traffic lights, improved intersections, and pedestrian and cyclist safety measures in Chinatown, Haddon Hill, Lakeshore, Lake Park, and MacArthur Blvd.

Councilmember Kernighan is a leader in advocating for economic development that will bring jobs to Oakland and improve our tax base. Her efforts include mounting a successful community campaign to attract Trader Joe’s to Lakeshore Avenue. She coordinated with the community to execute Revive Chinatown, a $2.2 million capital improvement project. Pat’s advocacy for bringing retail to Oakland resulted in a major study of retail revitalization for the whole City and a Specific Plan for a regional shopping area in the Upper Broadway area. She works closely with the merchants groups in the neighborhood retail areas to enhance their success.

In addition to safety issues, Pat has worked to improve quality of life for Oakland’s children through enhancing parks and recreation, library services, and support for Oakland’s public schools. She provided funds for play structures at Clinton Park, Cleveland Elementary, Crocker Elementary, safety fencing at Lincoln Recreation Center, renovations to Brewer Middle School Playground, and replaced a play structure and re-instated summer programming at Bella Vista Park. She is working with Urban Ecology to renovate the schoolyard at Roosevelt Middle School and is currently working on a new playfield at Lincoln Recreation Center. Pat has worked closely with the senior community as well, providing funding for the construction of facilities at Madison Square Park for Tai Chi exercise. She partnered with the offices of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker to preserve affordable housing for senior residents in Chinatown.

Prior to her election, Pat served for four years as Chief of Staff to former District 2 Councilmember Danny Wan and two years as Legislative Aide to former District 2 Councilmember John Russo. She was integral to the creation of Splashpad Park and its role as home to the Grand Lake Farmer’s Market, as well as Bella Vista Park and the return of recreation programs to San Antonio Park. Pat co-authored Measure DD, which is providing the funding for major park renovations around Lake Merritt.

Pat grew up in Washington State and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. She holds a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law and is a member of the California State Bar. Her work as an attorney included representing low income people at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.

Pat has lived in the Grandlake neighborhood for the last 26 years where she and her husband Paul Gordon raised two daughters, Hannah Gordon and Ariel Gordon Davis. Pat was a longtime volunteer and advocate in Oakland public schools and served on the Oakland Library Commission prior to joining the City Council staff.